Makani Waz
Age 13
Redondo Beach, California
A boy, his mother, 44 balloons
With UC Berkeley alumni as parents and a mom who managed his soccer team, the brown-haired boy numbered “22” was a regular, happy presence on the field.
During five years on the Los Angeles Galaxy South Bay soccer team, he built friendships and became known as one of the “Three Musketeers.” Just as he finished seventh grade, to his sorrow, his best friend moved away.
On July 11, 2018, 13-year-old Makani Waz’s father pulled a gun on him, Makani’s mother and himself in Redondo Beach, California. At Makani’s memorial, his friends released balloons into the air. Twenty-two for Makani. Twenty-two for his mother.
